Albert Heijn reopened its recently renovated XL supermarket in Purmerend, which it claims has the first in-store farming unit in the Netherlands. The store is also reported to be the most sustainable supermarket in Europe.
According to reports, one key innovation within the store is its focus on provenance, freshness and interactivity with the shopper, with a ‘choose it yourself’ shopping experience. Customers can choose between 12 different fresh herbs to ‘harvest’ from growing beds within the store.
The store itself is more than 100% CO2 neutral, and supplies nearby shops with surplus energy. The interior of the store is made from recycled material, and uses energy saving LED lights. Solar panels on the store’s roof are used to power E-Car-charging stations.
The cultivation method of the herbs means that customers can buy the freshest produce possible. It also creates in-store curiosity and interest for shoppers whilst reassuring them about product provenance.
It also allows Albert Heijn to reduce its carbon footprint by cutting out the need for transportation and the use of pesticides, which plays into the store’s overall aim of being the most sustainable supermarket in Europe.
